Modifications to the HF 4 and 5 drawer service carts - what changes have you made?

[MoparTrucks]

Well, I bought one of these carts the other day and have yet to put it together but of course I have already planned mods. I will change the handle, the grommets will be installed, and I will do something to the top to make it useful but I think I actually have a contribution to this thread - Torrin.

I bought the tool holder magnet at Lowes today and its really well made and works great on my old Stack-on. There were all kinds of things that were magnetic that would work great on these carts.

They aren't the cheapest but they sure seem to be better than the double HF magnet strips.

http://www.lowes.com/SearchCatalog?...-1&storeId=10151&N=4294857653#!&rpp=32&page=2

 

[Cubic Inches]

I just installed an amp in mine.

 

[trainman1385]

I installed a power strip on one side for my cordless tools and use the top as a charging station

 

[Jere]

I just installed an amp in mine.

Thats a cute little amp is it from a motorcycle? How are you powering it?

 

[Cubic Inches]

Thats a cute little amp is it from a motorcycle? How are you powering it?

It's a Lepai amp off of Amazon. $23. It just plugs into an a/c adapter and I mounted a power strip into the back of the box to plug it into.

 

[DarkMonohue]

And where does the audio come from?

 

[Cubic Inches]

And where does the audio come from?

I can plug my phone into it, it also has an sd card slot, and a usb port, or it has a built in fm radio. And a remote.

 

[Dave.R]

Does anyone else have trouble with their locking rails popping up when you open the lid? I have to pull mine up with pliers to get them to release the drawers.

I like this thing as my motorcycle cart, but its a pain to do this everytime. I thought about removing them, but I actually like the lock feature.

 

[PelicanPines]

Does anyone else have trouble with their locking rails popping up when you open the lid? I have to pull mine up with pliers to get them to release the drawers.

I like this thing as my motorcycle cart, but its a pain to do this everytime. I thought about removing them, but I actually like the lock feature.

Sounds like your tabs on the rails are pinched. ... un-pinch them. While your in there. Lube everything.

 

[jhama78]

Finally got a couple of pics of my cart before and after the addition of the 2nd box on the bottom.

Before:



After:



You can see I cut the front off of the bottom box where the lock cylinder goes to use it at storage. When I put it back together I also used 5/16" stainless button head cap screws that I had left over from another project as well as using nut tabs on the back so no wrench was necessary to tighten the boxes to the frame.

Since these pics were taken Ive re-arranged my tools and filled both the top and bottom boxes with the main tools I use. I'll post up some pics of the drawer contents when I get a chance.

edit: And before any of the anti-sticker purists show up, I know that it looks cluttered but they can be removed...

 

[SASORacing]

Your red Cman prybars dont let the lid close right?

 

[jhama78]

Correct, the lid won't close with the bars in there. But I rarely ever close it.

I did snap a few pics of the box this evening. Here they are in order from the top tray down:















Sorry the first pic is sideways, I'll fix it tomorrow on my computer at work.

 

[bdelmar2]

Where are you guys ordering your Snap-on hinges from? The old site where you could easily order parts (click this line) directs me to the new site when I click "Add to cart," and I can't see where you can order parts there. The KRBC8T9 is the correct part for the red cart, isn't it? Also does it come as a set, or do you need to order two?

I called Snap-on with the part number and ordered them, they come as a set, the price was around $11 I think and it took about 2 days for them to arrive.

 

[MoparTrucks]

I have a farm shop where i keep a 44" HF roller and a couple of Craftsman and Stack-on boxes and bought this 5 drawer for my pole barn shop and have been pretty pleased with it. The only thing I am not over joyed with is the chrome drawer trim pieces which seem out of place. Anyone remove them and not have any problem with chipping or wear on the drawer pulls?

Still want to do the wrench top handle, grommets for the screw driver slots and the side tray.

My old Huot cart is now relegated to a body work tools and supplies.

 

[Kiwi 007]

Here's my cart with the mods i've done so far. Still need to mount my HF 18" magnets to the lid. Did some closeups of how I installed the snap-on hinges. Used a step drill bit from HF to widen the holes on hinge part that connects to the lid.

I like that short handled hammer where did you get it?

This thread has so many awesome ideas.

 

[jasnooks]

I like that short handled hammer where did you get it?

This thread has so many awesome ideas.

That looks like the stubby ball peen from HF. I've been eyeballing those lately, just wish it had a wood handle. Only $2.99 [emoji106]

http://www.harborfreight.com/8-oz-s...r-95930.html?utm_referrer=direct/not provided

 

[DarkMonohue]

That looks like the stubby ball peen from HF. I've been eyeballing those lately, just wish it had a wood handle. Only $2.99

That's the one, and it is $2.99 well spent. I picked it up because it was cheap and cute (insert joke about ex-girlfriends here) and use it far more often than I ever thought I would.

 

[malykaii]

So I'm not the only one to double them up. I did this 4 years ago. I made it so when the lid closes, all 8 drawers lock. I can't remember how I did it though.

Also, nothing wrong with stickers!!!!

 

[ADSR]

^^ I like the Gibson sticker!

 

[DarkMonohue]

So I'm not the only one to double them up. I did this 4 years ago. I made it so when the lid closes, all 8 drawers lock. I can't remember how I did it though.

Also, nothing wrong with stickers!!!!

Wow, slick! I was about to cry, "stickers aren't mods!", until I scrolled down and saw the whole picture. Nice job.

 

[malykaii]

^^ I like the Gibson sticker!

It's actually a really cool magnet. My lady bought that for me years ago. I'm showing it to her now and we can't remember where she got it. Some business trip probably.

 

[ford guy]

[/QUOTE]So I'm not the only one to double them up. I did this 4 years ago. I made it so when the lid closes, all 8 drawers lock. I can't remember how I did it though.[/QUOTE]

Yep, you are not alone! I doubled one up & below is how I modified them to all lock with the top lid.
View media item 39116
Bob

 

[PelicanPines]

So I'm not the only one to double them up. I did this 4 years ago. I made it so when the lid closes, all 8 drawers lock. I can't remember how I did it though.[/QUOTE]

Yep, you are not alone! I doubled one up & below is how I modified them to all lock with the top lid.
View media item 39116
Bob[/QUOTE]

You both got an unofficial Nifty Mod award. Thanks for a great idea.

 

[Hemi49]

I added the shelf just below the handle.....I used self drilling/tapping screws.

 

[kool_BOY8323]

I added the shelf just below the handle.....I used self drilling/tapping screws.

wondered how that would look since i use the cabinet on the right too. not sure i wanna get the side table though..

 

[malykaii]

View media item 39116
Well thats shnazzy. Now that I see it, I think what I did was a lot more crude. I just notched the rod rather then thread it. Then I popped the rod into the lock thingy. Spring tension keeps it together and a little silicone ensures that.

I like your threaded idea way more though.

 

[colin39]

My old Huot cart is now relegated to a body work tools and supplies.

[/QUOTE]



Gotta love this cart. Its sssssooooo cccoooolllll. Dont put baby in the corner!!

 

[cadillactech]

Few guys here in the shop have the same cart so I needed to make mine stand out...

Custom signal green paint job with bedliner drawers, top, side holder, bottom tray and inside of the top compartment.

Custom bent connecting rod and acrylic rod handle.

Custom connecting rod end lid handle with a message to all who try and borrow my tools...


Drawer detail




I plan on ordering a snap on lock to match my big box, the snappy hinges, making full length thick rubber bumpers to the corners to protect the cars I work on, adapting a 12 volt battery, cables and charger for jumpstarting and providing power when programming vehicles, and a set of outlets to charge various tools.

I was running out of room in my big box so this $275 build saved me buying a $10K upgrade tool box.

 

[paigej]

How did you bend the connecting rods?
And, the box looks great

 

[cadillactech]

Wilson vise and an acetylene torch. Thanks!

 

[gipraw]

Wilson vise and an acetylene torch. Thanks!

Nicely done. I love that handle.

 

[PelicanPines]

Wilson vise and an acetylene torch. Thanks!

+1 Awesome idea and fabrication.

 

[DarkMonohue]

Nice job, cadillactech! Very creative, and still practical.

 

[cadillactech]

Thanks for the compliments. I will post the progression as it goes. I'm excited to see how well the bedliner holds up.

 

[MoparTrucks]

My old Huot cart is now relegated to a body work tools and supplies.

Gotta love this cart. Its sssssooooo cccoooolllll. Dont put baby in the corner!![/QUOTE] Thanks Colin, I was going to repaint it when I bought it but a friend said he'd kick my *** if I did!

Looks like cadillactech has really upped the bar on mods, that handle is awesome.

 

[kool_BOY8323]

Few guys here in the shop have the same cart so I needed to make mine stand out...

Custom signal green paint job with bedliner drawers, top, side holder, bottom tray and inside of the top compartment.

Custom bent connecting rod and acrylic rod handle.

Custom connecting rod end lid handle with a message to all who try and borrow my tools...


Drawer detail




I plan on ordering a snap on lock to match my big box, the snappy hinges, making full length thick rubber bumpers to the corners to protect the cars I work on, adapting a 12 volt battery, cables and charger for jumpstarting and providing power when programming vehicles, and a set of outlets to charge various tools.

I was running out of room in my big box so this $275 build saved me buying a $10K upgrade tool box.

one of the nicest complete HF 5 drawer mods i've seen in a while. well done sir!

 

[davidnx2k]

View media item 51167

 

[DarkMonohue]

^ You know we're going to want more detail on those, don't you? They look really interesting.

 

[davidnx2k]

View media item 51167

I modified these 2 to have the most amount of top work area to hold the most tools possible, they are the best service carts i have ever used and in my opinion the gas struts make the cart so appealing and look more expensive than what they cost and i would never remove them instead relocated them to make more room.
since im done working on my project car im gonna have to sell them so im gonna post them on craiglist today in case any of you guys are interested.

 

[davidnx2k]

^ You know we're going to want more detail on those, don't you? They look really interesting.

yeah, I know i will post more pics later but I pretty much just hacked the top of the first one to make a flat surface to use a laptop or have as many tools as possible where you need them, the second is the same concept but i built a sliding top right on top of the lid and the cart is not hacked and is completely removable, i only build them to work on my project car and im done so these have to go they are up for sale.